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Physical Measurement Laboratory /Quantum Sensors Division

Quantum Calorimeters Group

Superconducting devices at very low temperatures can be used to measure very small amounts of energy. Using this effect, the Quantum Calorimeters Group is building single photon detectors for large regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The Quantum Calorimeters Group in the Quantum Sensors Division develops and applies sensors that detect the energy of single photons or particles. For example, Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs) are able to measure the energy of single x-ray and gamma-ray photons with a precision better than one part per thousand. When assembled into arrays, TESs combine good spectral resolving power and good collecting efficiency in a way that is not possible with other detector technologies. Application areas include materials analysis, astrophysics, microelectronics defect analysis and supply chain verification, and nuclear security.

Projects and Programs

scanning electron microscope

Quantum Calorimeters

Ongoing
Superconducting devices at very low temperatures can be used to measure very small amounts of energy. Using this effect, the Quantum Sensors Group is building

Contacts

Group Leader